Molossia, also known as the self-proclaimed Republic of Molossia, is a micronation, founded by Kevin Baugh and headquartered solely from his home near Dayton, Nevada.

It consists of Baugh's house (known as the Government House), about 0.001 acres (4 m2) in size, as well as 1.3 acres (5,000 m2) of surrounding property, enclaved by Nevada. It formerly claimed a property in Pennsylvania as well. According to author John Ryan, Molossia is "a hobby that has been pushed to the nth degree."[2] Originally established as a childhood project in 1977, Molossia subsequently evolved into a territorial entity in the late 1990s.

The name Molossia is derived from the Spanish word morro which means "small rocky hill". Baugh has stated that the ancient Greek tribe of Molossians is unrelated.[3]

History[edit]

On September 3, 1999, Baugh created the Republic of Molossia as a latter day successor to a childhood make-believe kingdom called "The Grand Republic of Vuldstein", and declared himself to be its president.

On November 13, 2012, Kevin Baugh created a petition on the Whitehouse.gov We the People website requesting formal recognition of the micronation. However, his petition did not gain enough signatures for recognition.

Territory[edit]

Border sign, Harmony Province

Molossia consists of two properties (previously three), located within the continental United States and comprising a total area of 6.3 acres (2.5 ha). They are owned by Baugh. Harmony Province is located near Dayton, Nevada and is the smallest of Molossia's territories at little more than one acre in size. It is the Baugh family's primary place of residence, and the site of Molossia's designated capital, Baughston. Baughston, was renamed from Espera on 30 July 2013 to commemorate President Baugh's 51st birthday.[4]

The Protectorate of New Antrim was located at an undisclosed location in Pennsylvania and was the largest of Molossia's territories at a little over 8 acres (3.2 ha) in extent. It was named for the Northern Irish County Antrim and had its own governor, Grand Admiral Hess. It is no longer claimed by Molossia.

In August 2003, Baugh purchased a small piece of rural land in Northern California. This was referred to the Colony of Farfalla. The property was sold late in 2005, after Baugh inherited more land which he subsequently named Desert Homestead Province, in Southern California.[3] Desert Homestead was previously owned by Baugh's grandfather, and the property has since been declared a "national monument" dedicated to him.[3]

Vesperia is the name of Molossia's claim of 49,881 square miles (130,000 km2) on the planet of Venus.

Additionally, Molossia claims a spot named Neptune Deep in the North Pacific Ocean, about 750 kilometres (470 mi) southwest of Mexico.[5]

Operations[edit]

Proclamations[edit]

The Republic of Molossia claims to be a sovereign, independent nation-state, completely surrounded by the United States. As a result, it has adopted a system of government recognizably similar in structure to that of a sovereign state.

Structure[edit]

Molossia is a republic governed by a constitution creating a National Assembly and other institutions of state. However, "due to unrest and the ever-present foreign menace from over the border", a state of martial law exists, enabling the President, Kevin Baugh, to exercise all powers of governance, including foreign affairs, while making the National Assembly an advisory body with no legislative powers.[3]

Foreign relations[edit]

Molossia recognizes several other micronations, with numerous treaties enacted to this end.[3] In May 2008, a summit was held with Grand Duke Paul, leader of the Grand Duchy of Greifenberg, another micronation. Plans were made for the revitalization of the League of Small Nations, a nearly defunct organization devoted to the prosperity of all micronations claiming land. This was Molossia's first ever formal state visit.[6] Molossia asserts it was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Kosovo, one day after the Albanian majority country was declared on February 18, 2008, with Baugh sending an official letter to the newly formed government.[7] However Molossia now only opens informal relations with other states.

Molossian Postal and Telegraph Service[edit]

The Molossian Postal and Telegraph Service only functions within the Republic of Molossia since the micronation is unrecognized and therefore has no equivalent agencies outside it. The Postal and Telegraph Service currently produces Cinderella stamps.[8][9][10][11]

Tourism[edit]

Molossian customs station

In recent years the various micronation-themed art installations and landscaping projects that Baugh has constructed around his home have begun to attract some outside interest, with Baugh taking visitors on guided tours of the property by prior arrangement.[6] As of 2008, he claims to have hosted around 14 visitors in a year.[6] Visitors are required to produce a passport and their pocket change in order to be admitted.[12] Baugh has stated that these requirements are waived for citizens of Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Seborga and "any other country recognized by Molossia".[3]

War with East Germany[edit]

The Republic of Molossia has claimed to be fighting a war with East Germany[14] and it has issued war bonds to stop the war.[15] It claims to have been fighting it since November 2, 1983.[14] Although East Germany is now defunct, President Baugh asserts that Ernst Thälmann Island, allegedly given to East Germany by Cuba in 1972, is sovereign territory of East Germany, and thus allows the war to continue. In reality, the island continues to remain under Cuban sovereignty and was never transferred to East Germany.

In popular culture[edit]

Molossia was the main focus and site of the two-year anniversary of the That Guy with the Glasses website. Doug Walker produced a six-part mini-series starring Channel Awesome members titled Kickassia, primarily set and filmed on-location in Molossia and a nearby hotel. In the film, the Nostalgia Critic conquers Molossia and becomes its new leader, with the help of various other members of the That Guy With the Glasses site. The critics succeed and rename the nation "Kickassia" with plans to hopelessly conquer the United States, but the Critic becomes corrupt with his own power, leading the members of Channel Awesome to revolt against him and pass the power back to Baugh. Baugh stars as a comical version of himself. [16]

Molossia has also made an appearance as one of several micronations in the Japanese online webcomic, Hetalia: Axis Powers. He is mostly seen interacting with other micronations such as Sealand, Seborga, and Wy.[17]